Polio - 1956

Polio was still a feared dread disease in 1956.

This is a letter from Margaret Upton Waning's cousin Helen Gantenbein.

By this point Helen was married to Earl (no last name known) and Helen's sister, June was married to Maurice Suckow.

Suckows and Waning Children - Madras, OR

I think this was a letter enclosed with a Christmas card.

"Dear Margaret and All --

We have so appreciated your letters - I'm a stinker for not answering.  Only person I know of that's worse is my sister.  I didn't hear from her for a good six months.  Then she had such bad news.  I suppose she has written you - but in case she hasn't - Curtis has Polio.  He is left with his upper arms paralyzed.  The expectation is that he can get back at least 80% of his muscle use.  He should be..."

"home from the hospital by now.  I talked to her Sun.  The rest of their family is O.K.  We had a heck of a summer.  Earl's back went bad on Father's day (a disk injury).  He spent the Fourth week end (plus) at home in bed then went to the hospital for 10 days July 7 - wore a brace till back to the hospital 5 days the last of Aug.  And in a cast for a month then a brace again.  He was much better 'till about two months ago, and now he is again in pain.  He is working - he did all summer between trips to the hospital - but he is miserable.  So you see why we couldn't make any plans for go to June's - or anything.  Earls' Dad is still the same - paralysed and blind.  Dianne, Clair and babies just stopped by to give us pictures of the babies and Santa.  Sure wish I could show them to you they are sooo cute.  Debbie is all..."  

"puckered up to cry - it's adorable!  We expect to have quite a Xmas with them - we enjoy them so much anyway.  This note sounds like the last rose of summer but in spite of our troubles we really are happy.  We would like so much to see you folks again.  I surely hope an other year we can make it.  Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

Love Earl and Helen"



1956 Elsie and Mildred Go to Hawaii - Part 7

Since 1956, four generations of the Upton / Waning family have visited the Hawaiian Islands, but I'm not sure if anyone has explored them as thoroughly as Elsie and Mildred did.  As best I can tell they visited the Big Island, Maui, Kona, and Kauai.

Postcard from Elsie - Front

Postcard from Elsie - Reverse

"12-1/56

Dear Ones:

This is where we are tonight.  We have a church close by and they played the organ tonight.  All the good hymns are(sic) Mothers taught us.  It was beautiful.  Xmas Carolls(sic) also.   We had a terrible storm last night, but has been beautiful today.  Your mother feels much better over here on Kona much cooler.  We fly to Kauai Island tomorrow afternoon.  We want to go to church in the A.M.

With love, Mom"   

Elsie Upton Postcard - Front

Elsie Upton Postcard - Reverse

A card to her Waning Grand-daughters...

"12-4-56

Dear Girls:  This is a beautiful but cold morning.  We are flying back to Honolulu to-day and will leave for home Sunday.  We have a trip planned for this morning to take a ride by boat.  I hope I will have a letter when I get back to the Hotel.

With love

Grandmother" 

Elsie Upton Postcard - Front

Elsie Upton Postcard Reverse

Postcard 12-5-56

"Dear Family:

This is one of the places we stayed on our tour of the Islands.  We have seen a lot of pineapple and sugar cane miles of it.  I have had pineapple with every meal.  We will be here until Sunday when we leave for home.  Will see you soon.

Mom" 

Parade of Champions

Saturday morning the City of Eugene and the University of Oregon held a "Parade of Champions" to celebrate the accomplishments of the U of O and the greater Eugene/Springfield communities.

Chuck, Lexa, and I watched from the corner of 11th and Oak.

ROTC Honor Guard

U of O Track Team

U of O Gospel Singers

U of O President Lariviere and Faculty

College of Arts and Sciences

Amusing Basset Hounds!

Slug Queen

Ducky on his Harley

U of O Football Team

U of O Football Team

U of O Football Team

U of O Football Team

Here's a list of all the entries.

1956 Elsie and Mildred Go to Hawaii - Part 6

Upon returning to Eugene, Margaret sent a second letter to her mother.

Margaret's love of African Violets was shared with her Aunt Lillian Greenwell. 

Margaret's 2nd letter to Elsie - envelope

"Nov 28 -1956

Dearest Mom -

We were so very happy to get your card and letter yesterday.  It doesn't take very long by air-mail does it?  Sunday we talked about your landing in Honolulu - imagining what it would be like - you were landing about the time we were eating breakfast - slow weren't we?  We had a real nice stay in Portland - Sat. we did something I've wanted to do for years - drove up to Timber Line Lodge."    

Waning Girls at Timberline?



"It was a beautiful drive - the sun was out bright (of course the East wind was blowing 100 miles an hr more or less) but we were in the car so that didn't bother.  When we got up there even Tiny(1) got around in the snow.  Jim & the girls had a snowball fight - Mom was chicken & stayed in the car.  The Lodge itself is quite a place - don't remember whether you were clear up there or not - we had lunch there - but of course didn't get into the main part of the building which is reserved for hotel guests.

We didn't visit anyone till Sunday - Then went to see Aunt Ella(2), Charlotte & Ike & then Aunt Lillian(3).  Had fine visits everywhere I brought home 4 new violets from Aunt Lillian's.  Barbara very uneasy all day because Chuck(4) got back from Klamath Falls Sat nite.  We got home about 8 & he was here in 10 min!  Barb had supper at his house Mon. nite & he ate here last nite.  He's going to a school the Telephone Co. conducts for new linemen for 3 weeks.

Jim is to finish his plowing at Dexter today.(5)  He was disappointed about his little trees - he wanted 15,000 this year - went to see about them the day we took you to the train & they were all sold out for this year.  Don't know whats next on the program - but I would like to get started fixing the basement up as a playroom for the kids.

As for me - I've got a huge ironing staring me in the face - don't you want to help?  This morning I've potted some violets (Jim says I'll soon have as many as Aunt L. - I say not for a while.)  Then I'm attempting to work over the flower box - it's getting to looking like a Jungle.(6)   

I do hope this finds both you and Aunty Mildred well rested & having fun.  As for the heat, better enjoy it. - Its cold here - freezing every nite & usually clear in the day time - tho' Monday was the foggiest day I believe I ever saw.

Lots of Love to you both -

Margaret  

Thought the clipping might be of interest - isn't she the daughter of one of your special nurses(7)?"

1 Tiny - the first of the three Waning Chihuahuas

2 Ella McAdam Caufield - Jim's maternal aunt

3 Lillian Nelson Greenwell - Roy's wife and Margaret's maternal aunt.

4 Yes Chuck was already part of the Waning family by 1956 -  

5 Jim was plowing the Dexter Ranch for his parents.

6 Margaret had flower boxes lining inside of the kitchen of the Moss Street house 

7 Reference to one of the Private Nurses Elsie had post-mastectomy in 1951.   

1956 Elsie and Mildred Go to Hawaii - Part 5

Further postcards - these two were written by Mildred Loomis. 

Mildred and Elsie became friends as young married women in Cherry Grove, Oregon in the 1920's. 

Elsie is holding Ellen Upton and Mildred Loomis is next to her with glasses.

Margaret Upton is in front row on the left. 

They remained life-long friends and Mildred was awarded the honorary of "Aunty".

Mildred's Card  to Margaret - Front

Mildred's Card to Margaret - back

"11-28-56 Dear Margaret

I am writing this for your Mother she is pretty tired tonight and we have to get up early tomorrow as we start our tour of the Islands.  This is where we eat most of the time, its right on the beach and at night it is beautiful.  We ate dinner by candle light tonight.  It is very hot here, I think that makes Elsie tired.  She is in bed now.  Love Mildred"    

Mildred's Card to Jim - front

Mildred's Card to Jim - back

"11-29-56

Dear Jim: I am writing this for Elsie she has gone to bed, she is fine but tired so I told her I would write you.  We went up to this Crater(1) today and when we got there it was raing so hard we couldn't see a thing we were so dissappointed(sic) .  We fly to Hilo tomorrow love from Elsie & Mildred"  

1 Haleakala Crater - part of Hawaii National Park on Maui.

1956 Elsie and Mildred Go to Hawaii - Part 4

Nine-year-old Connie sent her Grandmother a letter from Portland, OR.

Connie's letter - Page 1

"Dear Grandmother,

I hope that you are having a good time, I am.  We are having a very good time in Portland.  We went shopping Friday.  But we had already got your present.  Sandy and Barbra(sic) went to a show.  We will probably all go to night.  Tomorrow we will go to MT Hood and play in the snow.  We got little Margrets(sic) present but not Grover's.  Say hello to Mildred and have a wonderfull(sic) time.

Connie and family.

Connie's letter - Page 2

P.S. Have you fed the fish? Ha ha ha!  Tinys fine too."

1956 Elsie and Mildred Go to Hawaii - Part 3

Envelope from Elsie Upton - mailed from Honolulu

"11-25-56

Dearest Family:

This will be just a line to let you know we had a good trip and arrived this morning.  It is beautiful but to (sic) hot for me.  It is like August weather.

We are both quite tired.  We have a beautiful place to stay.  This weather would be to your liking Margaret(1), all my clothes are to (sic) warm.  

I wish you could be here with us.  I had a nice letter from Viola.  I was glad to hear from her.  I scribbled a card on ship but didn't get it mailed so will put it in with this.

I did so enjoy seeing Ellen(2) and children and Helen Becker(3).

We hope to shop, but we are a long way from the shopping center.  We will have to rest up first.  The mail box is in front of our cottage.

I will write more when I get rested.

Bye for now.  With love,

Mom

(write!)"

1 Apparently early-on Margaret Upton Waning was a "lizard" who enjoyed hot weather. 

2 Ellen Upton Hall - Grover Hall and Margaret Hall - Elsie's daughter and grandchildren.

3 Helen Becker was an Upton cousin who lived in San Francisco and was a buyer for Macys.

1956 Elsie and Mildred Go to Hawaii - Part 2

We are fortunate to have cards from Elsie to Margaret, and a couple of letters from Margaret to Elsie!

Margaret Upton Waning - Letter to her Mother November 1956

"Don't know why this pen misses so much - something about being a balled-point (sic) I suppose - please excuse.

Nov. 23 - 1956

Dearest Mom -

I hope this finds both you and Aunty Mildred in fine shape - after a lovely time on the boat - I'll be most interested to hear all about your adventures on the boat. What were your other flowers?(1)  

We came to Portland yesterday had Thanksgiving dinner at Hilaires - got us a nice motel out on Interstate Ave.  Then last eve went to the show 'Giant' - which I think we all enjoyed.  Almost one by the time we got to bed - so we didn't rise to (sic) early.  In fact we didn't even get down town in time for breakfast - they were serving lunch - I didn't approve as I still like my bacon & eggs first - no matter what time I eat.  They had their Christmas parade to (sic) this morning but we missed that too.  Tried to do a little shopping in at Mier-Frank's (sic) - what a mob scene.  Decided it is easier to shop in Eugene.  Barb & Sandie stayed down to see 'Oklahoma' - we will pick them up this eve - either go see Charlotte & Ike(2) or go to another show.  It is perfectly beautiful out - tho' chilly & a bit windy - not uncomfortable tho' Mt. Hood looks like a big ice-cream cone.  Probably be raining when Jim wants to get back & finish his plowing - he still has a couple of days.  Mom & Dad Waning were to have Thanksgiving with the Kidders.(3)

Bye for now dear - have a wonderful time & look at everything twice for me -

Much love from us all -

Margaret"  

1 Perhaps a reference to the bouquets left on ship to greet Elsie and Mildred when they bordered in S.F.

2 Long time friends - Ike and Charlotte Dorsey.

3 Rhoda Kidder a long-time friend and Dexter neighbor of the elder Wanings.

Matthew Knight Arena Opening Celebration, Matt Court, University of Oregon

I thought I'd share some videos and memorabilia from the opening night game at Matthew Knight Arena.

Everyone was given a souvenir ticket.

The "real" ticket.

Phil Knight spoke - movingly I must admit, about his son Matthew and all the work involved in planning and building the arena.  Then there was a very impressive Opening Ceremony.

I know ducks are not scared of heights, but still! 

I never could have been lowered from the ceiling like Ducky!

And here's the video.
Enjoy!

1956 - Elsie and Mildred Go to Hawaii - Part 1

In late November, Elsie Upton headed down to San Francisco, with her good friend Mildred Loomis.  The two women took a ship to Hawaii where they stayed for several days.

Card from Elsie - front

Card from Elsie - Reservse

"Nov 20 San Francisco

Dearest Family:

We had a wonderful trip to San Francisco.  This is a beautiful morning.  I am looking for Ellen(1) soon because it is now 10AM.  We didn't get here until very late for us about 1AM.  I tho't that you would like to know.

Mom"

1 Elsie's daughter Ellen Upton Hall

On ship card from Elsie - front 

On ship card from Elsie - reverse

"Dear Margaret:

This looks very much like our Stateroom.  This has been a wonderful trip.  We will be in Honolulu tomorrow morning.  They had a Party for us last night.  It was very beautiful.  Poor Mildred isn't very well to-day.  Our hotel will be Halekulani.  I miss you all and will see you soon.

Mom"